Woman performed dog’s surgery with knife, tongs in living room, police say

She told police that she attempted the surgery herself because she could not afford to have the procedure done by veterinary staff

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 1:47 PM PDT Jun 24, 2017

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT DETAILS TODAY.>> HONESTLY ONE OF THE STRANGESTTHINGS I'VE DEALT WITH IN OVER20 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. REPORTER: COMMANDER GEOFF HUFFSAYS ON JUNE 1, DIANE MCMENAMINCUT OPEN HER LIVING PUPPY WITH APAIRING KNIFE AND TONGS.AS WE GOT FURTHER INTO THA,WE FOUND THE WAS A LOT MORE TOIT.REPORTER: POLICE SAY BEFOREATTEMPTING THAT SURGERYMCMENAMIN TOOK THE ANIMAL TO THE, VETERINARY MEDICINE DEPARTMENTAT IOWA STATE.AND WHEN THEY TOLD HER THE PUPPYNEEDED SURGERY -- >> THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO AFFORDIT.SO THEY TOOK THE DOG HOME WITHTHE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WEREGOING TO TAKE THE DOG TO A VETTO HAVE IT EUTHANIZED.REPORTER: MCMENAMIN NEVER SHOWEDUP TO HAVE THE PUPPY EUTHANIZED.INSTEAD, SHE DID THEUNTHINKABLE.>> SHE HAD ACTUALLY ATTEMPTEDSURGERY ON THE DOG HERSELF WHICHLED TO THE DOG'S DEATH. REPORTER: MCMENAMIN TOLD POLICETHAT INSIDE HER HOME, SHE TOOKSTERILE INSTRUMENTS AND CUT INTO THE DOG, THEN ATTEMPTED TOSTITCH THE ANIMAL BACK U>> I THINK IN HER MIND SHE WASTRYING TO HELP THE DOG. REPORTER: WE TRIED KNOCKING ONMCMENAMIN'S FRONT DOOR FRIDAYAND GOT NO RESPONSWHEN POLICE ASKED WHY SHE FELTQUALIFIED TO PERFORM THESURGERY?>> SHE MENTIONED THAT SHE HADGROWN UP ON A FARM AND FELT SHECOULD PERFORM THE SURGERY.SHE SAID SHE HAD PERFORMCASTRATION' BEFORE, SO THATWOULD BE HER BACKGROUND.AND FOR WHATEVER REASON SHETHOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO AIDHER IN SURGERY ON A DOG. REPORTER: THOSE AT THE IOWAVETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONWORK TO PROTECT ANIMALS FROMSUCH TORTURE.RANDY WHEELER HAS 40 YEARS OFEXPERIENCE UNDER HIS BELT ANSAYS PEOPLE LIKE MCMENAMIN, NEEDTO REMEMBER THAT THEY'RE ANIMALCARETAKERS, NOT SURGEONS.>> I CAME FROM THE FARM, BUT

Advertisement

Woman performed dog’s surgery with knife, tongs in living room, police say

She told police that she attempted the surgery herself because she could not afford to have the procedure done by veterinary staff

A central Iowa woman faces animal neglect charges for reportedly attempting to perform surgery on her dog in her living room, killing the dog.

Sarah Diane McMenamin, 26, of Ames, is charged with animal neglect causing serious injury or death, according to court documents filed in Story County.

Advertisement

Ames Police Cmdr. Geoff Huff said McMenamin had previously taken her dog to Iowa State University VetMed because the dog had fallen ill. Veterinary staff advised McMenamin that the dog had an obstruction that required surgery and that without surgery the dog might need to be euthanized.

Huff said McMenamin arranged to have the dog euthanized at a different veterinary clinic June 1, but did not take the dog to the appointment, prompting veterinary staff to call the police.

Upon arriving at her residence on the 2800 block of Arbor Street, McMenamin told authorities that she attempted to perform surgery that morning to remove the obstruction from her dog using a paring knife and tongs. She also told police that she did not think the dog had an obstruction, but that the dog might have consumed rat poison.

McMenamin told police that she attempted the surgery herself because she could not afford to have the procedure done by veterinary staff. Hoff said that McMenamin also told police that she believed she could perform the surgery herself because she grew up on a farm and had castrated pigs before.

Police said McMenamin caused the dog “unjustified pain, distress or suffering” that resulted in the dog’s death.

McMenamin will appear in court appearance Monday, according to the Ames Tribune.